You can’t view Google cached pages anymore. Google removed the Cached link from search results in early 2024 and later turned off the cache: search operator, so there’s no longer a way to open Google’s stored copy of a page. The best replacement is the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine: go to web.archive.org, paste the page’s address, and pick a date from the calendar to see how it looked. Google Search itself now links to the Wayback Machine in the About this result panel for many pages.
Here are all the ways to see an old or unavailable version of a web page now.
What happened to Google cache?
Google’s cached pages were saved snapshots of websites, originally meant to help people when a site was down or slow. Google said that the web had become much more reliable and retired the feature. First the Cached link disappeared from the result menu, then searching cache:example.com stopped working. Old bookmarklets and “Google cache viewer” sites that relied on it no longer work either.
Method 1: Use the Wayback Machine
- Go to web.archive.org.
- Paste the full page address, like example.com/pricing, into the search box and press Enter.
- Pick a year on the timeline, then click a highlighted date on the calendar. Each blue circle is a saved snapshot.
- Choose a time if there are several snapshots that day. The archived page opens.
A shortcut: type web.archive.org/web/ followed by the address, like web.archive.org/web/example.com, to jump to the newest snapshot.
If the page isn’t archived, you can save it for the future. On the Wayback Machine home page, use Save Page Now and enter the address.
Method 2: Use “About this result” in Google Search
- Search Google as usual.
- Click the three-dot menu next to a result to open About this result.
- Click More about this page (or a similar link).
- Look for the link to see previous versions of the page on the Wayback Machine.
This isn’t available for every result, but it’s a quick route from Google to an archived copy.
Method 3: Try other archive and cache services
- archive.today (archive.ph): Enter a URL to see saved copies, or save a new one.
- Other search engines: Some, like Bing, may still offer a cached copy for certain results. Click the arrow or menu next to the result’s URL to check.
- Your own browser: If you visited the page recently, it may still be in your history. In Chrome, press Ctrl + H.
Why you might need an old version of a page
- The site is down or loading slowly.
- The page was changed or deleted, like a price, policy, or article you need to see.
- Research or proof of what a page said on a specific date.
- Recovering your own content from an old website you no longer have access to.
Tips for site owners
If you’re checking how Google sees your own page, use Google Search Console’s URL Inspection tool. It shows whether the page is indexed and lets you view the crawled page and the rendered HTML.
Frequently asked questions
Does the cache: operator still work in Google?
No. Searching cache: plus a URL no longer shows a cached page.
Is the Wayback Machine free?
Yes. The Internet Archive is a nonprofit, and the Wayback Machine is free to use.
Why doesn’t the Wayback Machine have the page I need?
Not every page is archived. Pages behind logins, blocked by robots.txt, or rarely linked are often missing. Try archive.today or search for the page’s content elsewhere.
Can I see a cached page on my phone?
Yes. Open web.archive.org in your phone’s browser and follow the same steps.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.